Justification:
The assessment for Abies homolepis as a species is the same as that of its main variety: Near Threatened (it almost meets the requirements for listing as threatened under criterion A2c).

Abies homolepis is a species of high mountains in the central parts of the Japanese islands Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. In the south it occurs from 1,100 m to 1,800 m a.s.l., in Honshu between 700 m and 2,000 m. The soils are mesic, derived from volcanic rock and usually well drained. The climate is cool and humid. Near the tree limit it forms either pure stands, or mixtures withA. veitchii and/orLarix kaempferi, but at lower elevations it occurs in the mixed coniferous deciduous forests, with e.g.Fagus crenata, Quercus crispula, Betula grossa, Tsuga diversifolia, Thuja standishii, Pinus densiflora. A. firma replacesA. homolepis below 1,100 m.

Nikko Fir is not an important timber tree as its range is limited and it occurs at high altitudes. It is fairly widely planted as an ornamental tree in Japan as well as in Europe, where it appears to be one of the least demanding species in the genus. A few cultivars are known in Japan as well as in Europe (independently derived), mostly being dwarfed forms suitable for Japanese gardens or rockeries.

Because the value of timber is low, Nikko Fir has not been used as a timber tree to any significant extent. As a result, there are many relatively large subpopulations remaining in central Honshu. However, Japanese Deer are a serious problem, reducing regeneration and sometimes killing larger trees through ring-barking.